We've been treated to some unforgettable games in the DeMeco Ryans era. It's too early to rank where the 20-10 triumph over Kansas City sits but it's safe to say this is on the list of the biggest wins in franchise history.
To be on the road against the rulers of the AFC and hold them to ten points is no small accomplishment. We've seen the Texans in similar situations in franchise history, unable to answer the bell. They rang it loud and clear on Sunday, serving notice that they are one of the most dangerous squads in the NFL.
In the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs have been to seven consecutive AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls, winning three. The Texans put K.C.'s playoff hopes in critical condition while winning their fifth straight and 8th in their last ten games.
As usual, the league's number one defense shined. They picked off Mahomes three times, his most interceptions since 2022, and turned the Chiefs over on downs twice. And they needed every stop in order to secure the win.
This was a defensive showcase for both sides. Kansas City's defense heated up in the second half, as Chris Jones started to take the game over. But the Texans caught a spark on a short field after a 4th down, 4th quarter stop.
Woody Marks got going with a six-yard run. Later he carried the ball eight yards to set up a first-and-goal at the five, then left the game to get checked out. Dare Ogunbowale punched it in to regain the lead.
Along the way, Jayden Higgins had two big fourth quarter catches for first downs, the first one snapping a four three-and-out streak that contributed to tilting the game into a 10-10 tie after the Texans led by ten at the break.
This was a defensive slugfest that saw both QBs throw for under 50 percent. It was Stroud who avoided turnover trouble, despite being harassed much of the night. And he gets the W.
Nico Collins was huge in the first half, with four catches for 121 yards. He's now a top four receiver in Texans history. Stroud went over 10,000 career passing yards in only his third year in the league.
Jalen Pitre, Kamari Lassiter and Azeez Al-Shaair had the interceptions, while Tommy Togiai and Sheldon Rankins - with Denico Autry - had sacks.
But make no mistake: While individual recognition is nice, the Texans defense is a true team unit. The pressure seems to come from everywhere. Sacks are sometimes not as effective as pressure, which can force bad throws that lead to turnovers or timely incompletions. And sticky coverage often leads to sack celebrations.
The offense won't hang this performance on the wall in Canton. But they made the plays when they needed them most, and they'll go home happy that they played mostly clean ball and got the dub.
Now come the Cardinals. This is not a playoff team. But it's an NFL team that will be looking to make headlines in Houston. Look no further than the Titans of 2024 if you need a cautionary tale. But then leave the past behind. This isn't 2024. It's 2025. And the Texans are headed back home for the next two games.
Let the good times roll.
